Analysis of two human familial cancer syndromes, hereditary nonpol yposis colorectal cancer and familial adenomatous polyposis, indicates that mutations in either one of four DNA mismatch repair gene homo logues or the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene, respectively, are important for the development of colorectal cancer. To further investigate the role of DNA mismatch repair in intestinal ...

I n hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), the most common form of inherited colorectal cancer, detection of the causal alteration of the mismatch repair (MMR) gene involved is essential for proper management of the families. This will allow the identification of relatives with high risk for colorectal or endometrial cancer, who require the appropriate screening and, conversely, wi...

Hereditary factors are thought to play a role in at least one third of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) but only a limited proportion of these have mutations in known high-penetrant genes. In a relatively large part of patients with a few or multiple colorectal polyps the underlying genetic cause of the disease is still unknown. Using exome sequencing in combination with linkage analyses t...

Women with germline mutations in the cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 or BRCA2, associated with Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer syndrome, have up to an 85% lifetime risk of breast cancer and up to a 46% lifetime risk ovarian cancer. Similarly, women with mutations in the DNA mismatch repair genes, MLH1, MSH2 or MSH6, associated with the Lynch/Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), members of the superfamily of nuclear steroid hormone receptors, have traditionally been studied for their role in lipid, glucose, and energy homeostasis. Recent evidence suggests that pharmacological activation of PPARgamma and PPARalpha, and inhibition of PPARdelta, may prevent cancer. PPARgamma agonists induce differentiation, inhibit the ...

Serrated polyposis has only recently been accepted as a condition which carries an increased personal and familial risk of colorectal cancer. Described over four decades ago, it remains one of the most underrecognized and poorly understood of all the intestinal polyposes. With a variety of phenotypic presentations, it is likely that serrated polyposis represents a group of diseases rather than ...

A family cancer screening clinic was set up to screen and counsel subjects at above average risk of developing colorectal cancer. Criteria for referral were one first degree relative under 50 years or two of any age with colorectal cancer. Pedigree information was used to estimate lifetime risks of developing colorectal cancer and offer appropriate screening: colonoscopy for high risks (greater...

Colorectal cancer arises after a series of mutations in various tumor suppressor and proto-oncogenes, each of which is accompanied by specific alterations and pathological conditions. Recent advances have contributed a great deal of understanding of the molecular basis of events that lead to colorectal tumorigenesis. Mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene is considered to be one ...

Classical familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a high-penetrance autosomal dominant disease that predisposes to hundreds or thousands of colorectal adenomas and carcinoma and that results from truncating mutations in the APC gene. A variant of FAP is attenuated adenomatous polyposis coli, which results from germ-line mutations in the 5' and 3' regions of the APC gene. Attenuated adenomatous ...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) accounts for approximately 1% of all CRCs. Adenomatous polyposis syndromes can be divided into; familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) - classic FAP and attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (AFAP), MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP), NTHL1-associated polyposis (NAP) and polymera...